The recommendation for protein for adult female vegans is around 46-58 grams per day.

The recommendation for protein for adult male vegans is around 56-70 grams per day.

Re: "complete proteins:" Animal foods, soy foods and quinoa are "complete proteins," which just means that they include all of the 9 essential amino acids, which is handy. But you can get all of the 8-9 essential amino acids quite easily if you consume a variety of plant-based foods. A complete protein will be made inside your body quite easily, as long as you are eating a wide variety of legumes (ex. sprouted chick peas), grains (ex. sprouted quinoa) greens and veggies, nuts and seeds :)

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As a vegan of 3 years I often have to argue this fact with people. We do fine with protein.
However I do want to point out to those who are new to the raw diet... You should take a vitamin supplement for B12. It is the only thing you do need and cannot get from this diet. So please be sure you stock up on the B12 vitamins next your in the health section :)

Lol Eshe - I feel you. Glad to have been able to help. I find it is hard to explain, but if it can be boiled down to a few confident, clear soundbites, you can usually move the conversation into a different direction quite quickly. It gets easier every time you do it. I find the animal analogies of horses/cows only eating plants helps too, it's a clear visual where people are like, oh yah! you're right!

All

As a vegan of 3 years I often have to argue this fact with people. We do fine with protein.
However I do want to point out to those who are new to the raw diet... You should take a vitamin supplement for B12. It is the only thing you do need and cannot get from this diet. So please be sure you stock up on the B12 vitamins next your in the health section :)

OMG!!! Everything you said about people being really concerned and insisting I'm not getting my "complete protein" from the plants and nuts I'm eating, is 1000% true….and annoying. Because I'm not a food expert, I would get so defeated during a conversation and feel like I'm not doing the best thing for my body, and consider adding meat back into my diet (which, I really really don't want to). So this was super helpful. Finally!!
Thanks a Bunch!!!!!! :-D

Lol Eshe - I feel you. Glad to have been able to help. I find it is hard to explain, but if it can be boiled down to a few confident, clear soundbites, you can usually move the conversation into a different direction quite quickly. It gets easier every time you do it. I find the animal analogies of horses/cows only eating plants helps too, it's a clear visual where people are like, oh yah! you're right!

I love the podcasts. I haven't gone raw or even entirely vegetarian but I'm experimenting with a lot of nutritional changes and I make a lot of smoothies.

I wanted to comment on podcast 13: vegan protein. You mentioned that there is a lot of discussion regarding how much protein is enough.

I would like to reference an interesting book I read recently called "Health Secrets From Europe" by Paavo Airola which is actually quite an old book (Copyright 1970). He cites a number of studies that find that 50 grams of vegetable protein is the most that your body is likely to be able make use of in a day and that 30 grams is likely a satisfactory RDA.

Furthermore, any excess protein in the diet is not as easily converted into energy as carbs and fats.

I think that most vegetarians are still obsessing over their protein levels and trying to cram sources into everything they eat which can detract from the joy of some culinary experiences.

I've studied a lot of resources this year after having kidney stones which are related to a protein imbalance. That being too much protein in the diet which requires a high production of uric acid to process it. This in turn requires extra calcium to neutralize the remaining acid. If there isn't enough calcium in the diet it is drawn from the bones. That, finally is how high protein diets become responsible for osteoporosis and kidney stones which are typically calcium deposits.

This knowledge initiated a health kick a few weeks ago where I did a fast and then changed my diet.

This information is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. I encourage you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with like-minded, qualified health care professional(s). I wish you success on your raw journey!

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